Song of Adolescence-Side Story Arc: Follow the Dao, Chapter 5: Opening of the Congress

"Longhu Mountain's feathered-robe high minister should be more powerful than this." Fei Xuan raised his right hand and gestured a "if you please" sign. "Anyway, if we go to the Daoism Congress, I would definitely have to meet you there. We might as well duel it out here first."

Wang Chuan chuckled and retreated a few more steps. His figure gradually faded away. "You're wrong. I'm not here to duel with you."

Li Fansong lowered his sword and grumbled, "He's only here to delay us so that we'll miss the Daoism Congress."

Fei Xuan frowned. "It won't be easy to break this Severed Space Array. He borrowed someone's power."

"Borrowed power?" Li Fansong asked.

"Back then, the State Preceptor left three restrictions in the palace. Besides him, only the imperial family knows about these restrictions. His Majesty must have let him borrow these restrictions temporarily. Now, Wang Chuan's Severed Space Array borrowed these three restrictions, so it's very powerful," Fei Xuan explained with a soft sigh.

"That's why I said we should have left this Heavenly Revelations City earlier…" Li Fansong groused.

Directorate of Astronomy.

"Why are Fei Xuan and Li Fansong not back yet? The Daoism Congress is about to begin." Deputy Director Tan Ze frowned.

Huang Kunlun walked in from outside. "There's news from the palace. Fei Xuan and Li Fansong are at a critical juncture in their exorcism and cannot leave. The Daoism Congress will continue as scheduled."

Tan Ze said angrily, "What a convenient coincidence!"

Huang Kunlun sighed. "Looks like this was all a setup aimed deliberately at our Directorate of Astronomy. Before the Director passed away, he entrusted us to support Fei Xuan to ascend to the position of State Preceptor. Now, the Daoism Congress is about to start but he just had to be summoned to the palace!"

"Celestial master," a little Daoist boy walked in hurriedly.

"What's the matter?" Tan Ze asked.

"Lanyue Marquis sent someone with an invitation. Everything has been prepared at the Court of Quietude and he invites the celestial masters to attend," the little Daoist boy replied.

Tan Ze scoffed coldly. "This invitation is rather timely."

Huang Kunlun frowned and said, "What should we do now?" f𝘳𝚎𝐞we𝐛𝑛𝐨𝘃e𝘭.co𝘮

"Go invite Mister Xie," Tan Ze instructed the little Daoist boy.

The little Daoist boy replied hurriedly, "Mister Xie has already left in the carriage. He asked the celestial masters not to worry. He will definitely be at the Court of Quietude with Fei Xuan."

Tan Ze was taken aback. "Is Mister Xie that certain?"

The little Daoist boy hid a snigger. "Mister Xie can really predict the future. He said that the Deputy Director would definitely ask this question. He said, if the Deputy Director did not believe him, why ask him this question."

Huang Kunlun laughed and said, "This Confucian Sword Immortal is really a god."

"Let's go then." Tan Ze sighed. "If we fail to fulfil the task that the Director entrusted us with, we can only leave the Directorate of Astronomy and leave Heavenly Revelations City.

Court of Quietude.

Brave Tiger Guards surrounded the courtyard where a large open space was being used for the Daoist participants to duel one another. A high platform had been built outside the hall and seated within were the master of ceremony of the Daoism Congress, Lanyue Marquis, as well as the three judges, who were naturally the three celestial masters from the Directorate of Astronomy, Tan Ze, Huang Kunlun, and Zhao Chuanyi. However, just as the Daoism Congress was about to begin, another seat was added to the platform. Seated there was obviously Lei Wujie, who had been brought over by Lanyue Marquis.

"Lei-xiongdi, please remain here until the end of the Daoism Congress." Lanyue Marquis remarked with a laugh as he drank his tea casually.

But Lei Wujie was not in the mood to laugh. "Marquis, I promise you I won't make any more trouble. Please let me go."

Lanyue Marquis shook his head. "I don't believe you."

"We're already here and you still don't believe me?" Lei Wujie demanded angrily.

"I'm afraid that you won't be able to control yourself when you see what happens next." Lanyue Marquis smiled.

"What's going to happen?"

"You're waiting for Fei Xuan?"

"Of course."

"But he won't be coming." 𝑓re𝘦𝔀𝗲𝘣𝘯𝘰νℯ𝒍.c𝗼ｍ

"Why not?"

"Because he's been summoned to the palace to exorcise evil spirits, but there are actually no evil spirits in the palace, only restrictions." Lanyue Marquis was still drinking his tea slowly. Lei Wujie, on the other hand, ran out of patience. He wanted to stand up but Lanyue Marquis reached out and restrained him. "There are one thousand Brave Tiger Guards here. You can leave after you wipe them out."

"Why are you doing this? Just because Fei Xuan is our friend? We even gave up the Emperor's position so why's he afraid of giving the position of State Preceptor to Fei Xuan?" Lei Wujie whispered fiercely.

"You don't understand. When a person sits in that chair, there will be no one he can trust absolutely. Back then, what was the relationship between the late emperor and Langya Prince like? Yet in the end, when Langya-wangxiong met his death, the late emperor didn't stop him. What's more the present emperor is not close to Xiao Se and for a time, they were even on opposing sides. Although the State Preceptor doesn't hold real power, the position has a very high status and is very important. He cannot accept such a position being taken by Xiao Se's friend." Lanyue Marquis smiled.

Lei Wujie scoffed coldly. "I finally understand why Mingde Emperor banished all his brothers from Heavenly Revelations but kept you here. I also understand why, for two successive reigns, you used to be close to Xiao Se but was still appointed to a high post by Xiao Chong. The golden Lanyue Marquis, you sure know how to choose your sides."

"The balance of the world is not easy to maintain. I'm just trying my best to keep this balance." Lanyue Marquis chuckled. "What's more, why are you interfering? If Fei Xuan really has the ability to become the State Preceptor, then the restrictions in the palace won't be able to stop him. Actually, I'm quite looking forward to it. Looking forward to seeing that little Daoist boy here."

"Marquis," an old voice spoke up. Lanyue Marquis and Lei Wujie turned their heads and saw the three old celestial masters from the Directorate of Astronomy arriving on the platform. Lanyue Marquis nodded and said, "Celestial Masters, you've worked hard."

"Marquis, it's you who have worked hard, so eager to invite us here." Tan Ze did not hide the displeasure on his face and he took his seat grumpily. The other two celestial masters also sat down without speaking, looking like they were rather upset with Lanyue Marquis. Lanyue Marquis laughed awkwardly and said, "Looks like the little Daoist boy I'd hoped to see won't be coming."

Lei Wujie was about to find a chance to escape but he spotted a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't resist calling out, "Mister Xie."

Xie Xuan was just walking into the Court of Quietude with the rest of the Daoists and when he heard his name being called, he turned back and saw Lei Wujie. However, he wasn't surprised. He simply smiled and returned the greeting.

"The Confucian Sword Immortal is here too, huh." Lanyue Marquis had lifted his teacup and was drinking his tea when his hand froze. "That little Daoist boy…"

Lei Wujie had also noticed the little Daoist boy walking behind Xie Xuan. His face was clearly visible. He was definitely Fei Xuan from Qingcheng Mountain! He exclaimed cheerfully, "Marquis, looks like what you were hoping for has really happened."

Lanyue Marquis put down his teacup, a bitter smile on his face. "Looks like I'm still going to mess up my job."

Huang Kunlun couldn't help but repeat what he said earlier. "Mister Xie is really a god."

Xie Xuan rubbed little Fei Xuan's head. "Are you ready?"

Fei Xuan nodded. "Don't worry. My Great Dragon and Elephant Strength is also very strong."